The Actor's Revealing Playlist: From Early Favorites to Peculiar Dislikes
The first tune I was captivated by
My first recollection is walking into a space at nursery school where they were blasting Yellow Submarine by the Beatles. I was enthralled by the sonic landscape, and John Lennon yelling: “Full speed ahead!” When it got to the refrain, I distinctly thought: “This must be music!”
The inaugural single I bought
When I was eight years old, I won a competition at school to select a new record to play at the weekly dance party we had on Fridays. My instructor took me to a local store, and I chose Come Back My Love by the group Darts. The first single I purchased with my own savings was Mull of Kintyre by Wings from a record shop in Lancashire. It was topping the charts at the time, and I chose it when my father noted that it was by one of the Beatles.
The track I perform at karaoke
I candidly do not enjoy public singing and steer clear at all costs. But if I had to, I’d select Summer Wind by Frank Sinatra.
The piece I inexplicably know all the words to
I not long ago discovered that I have memorized pretty much every word to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and every song on Graceland by the legendary songwriter.
The ideal song to put on at a gathering
It hinges on the point of the party you are at. For the beginning it would probably be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by the soul legend. As the night wears on, I’d move on to the Artist, the Stones and Bowie, and when it gets lively, Phat Planet by the electronic act, Born Slippy .NUXX by the techno pioneers, and Ascension by Gorillaz, which is an absolute banger.
The track I can not bear
I for some reason detest Mr Brightside by the Killers.
The best piece to get intimate to
Come Together by the Beatles.
The album that altered my perspective
When I was 12 and just learning to play the guitar, I’d only listen to early rock ’n’roll, and was fixated on Elvis, the rock pioneer, Jerry Lee Lewis, the New Orleans legend, Buddy Holly and the rockabilly star. Then my babysitter brought round Let There Be Rock by the Australian rockers. It was still guitar music, but it was powerful rock music. The moment he dropped the vinyl on the turntable, I was a fan for life.
The song that motivates me in the morning
What’d I Say in its full glory by Ray Charles.
The piece that gets me emotional
All music makes me touched. Aretha Franklin, Frank Sinatra, Presley and the Beatles all stir my emotions because of the melody and pure perfection of the voices. But The Ocean by Richard Hawley gets me going without fail.
The music I’d like played at my memorial service
The King. If I’m cremated, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m buried, I’ll have Way Down.
